Coupling.



J. C. WRIGHT, JR.

COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1913.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

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- J. O. WRIGHT, JR.

COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 11 1913.

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J. C. WRIGHT, JR. COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1913.

1,1 21,546, Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

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J. G. WRIGHT, JR.

COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1913.

1,121,546, Patented Dec.l5,1914.

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I I ATTORNEY THE NORRIS P EI'ER5 c0 F'HOTOVLITIIOH wAsmNomM D C A [T TATES PATENT OFFIC.

JAMES c. -WRIGHT, .13., or RIVERSIDE? CALIFORNIA.

COUPLING.

Todllwhom 525 may 6 mm a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Riverside, in the county of Riverside and Stateof California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Couplers; and I do declarethe following tobe a full,

clear, and exact description of'the invention, such as will'enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanymg. drawings, and to the lettcrs'and figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification. 1

My invention. relates to improvements in automatic a1r, coupllngsflfor rallway. cars,

and has for its principalobjectto provide an apparatus; for automatically connecting or discon'necting'jthe air equipment of ,one railway carwith' 'thatof another car, or with a' locomotive,simultaneously with the coupling or uncoupling of'thecars, andwhereby a 7 signal is transmitted to theengin'e'er or conductor and all brakes set when, such equip-- ment isuncioupled. It is a further' object 'ofimy invention to provide an air coupling with-means for' retaining the air in the equipment, so that in cutting'a train for a crossing,ior setting out acar, the brakes will notbe seteitherin the main or detached sections, but a signal will be energized to notify the trainmen that such parts have been successfully discon-v nected. v

In accomplishing these and other objects of thejinvention, I haveprovided the improved details of structure hereinafter de scribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs, where1n:,-F1gure I is a slde' elevation of an automatic air couplingcon-- structed in accordance with my invention. Fig. II 1s an end v ew of the same. jFlg. III

is a plan view ofitlie coupling head, showing I the parts at the moment of contact. Fig. IV I on the line VI+VL Fig. I. Fig. v11 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the valve chamber taken on the line VII VII, Fig.

VI. FigsVIII, IX, X and-XI are transverse sectional views onfthe line-VIII'VIII,

' Fig. I, showing therelation-of the parts at Be it known that I, JAMESJCFWRIGHT, J r.,

I Specification of LettersPatent. Patented D 15,1914. j Application filed June 14, 1913. Seria1 Noa7 73,754.-

difierent points of operation. Fig. XII is a transverse sectional view on the, line XII XIL'Fig V. Fig. XIII is atransverse sectional view on the line XIII-XIII, Fig. V. FlggjXIV is a perspective view of the valve actuating device. Fig. XV is a longitudinal sectional view of the hand valve, 'taken at rightangles tothat shown in normal position. Fig. XVI is a similar view showing the parts inposition to retain the air in the brake-and signallines; Fig.'XVII is an enlarged central, longitudinal section through a portionof the? valve chamber, the parts being in position to retainthe airpin each 1 individual section of the equipment. Fig.

-XVIII is'a similar view showing theparts in position to provide'a free passage of air throughfthe by-pass and through the brake llne of each indivldual section ofthe equipment. Fig. XIX is an enlarged vertical sec tion-onthe line XIX XIX, Fig. IV.

".R-eferringmore indetail to the parts: 1 designates the barrel of an automatic air coupling, one of which is securedto each end of a railway car (not shown) in any suitable manner, and comprises'a tubular shell, having a cap 2 provided with a central aperture 2 threaded into one end and an elongated boss 3 near the opposite end for incl'osing the longitudinal chambers4, 4: and 5 the latter beingprovidedwith ports 6 and 7 that communicate with the pipes 8 and. 9 of the main brake and signallines respectively. I I

Slidably mounted within the barrel 1 is a coupling pipe'lO which extends beyond the end thereofand is provided with a coupling head 11 comprising upper and lower hollow arms 12' and 13, which communicate with the passages 14: and 15 in the coupling 7 pipe 10 and are provided with hollow studs 16 upon which the coupler jaw '17 is pivotally mounted. Theijaw 17 is substantially 19 and the inner face being of the same radius as the face 20. The interior of the jaw is divided into upper and lower chambers 23 and 24: which communicate with the passages l land 15, through the hollow studs 16, the latter being provided with apertures 25 to permit the free circulation. of air therethrough.

The chambers 23 and 24-. are provided withports 26 and, 27 which open; through the fiat face 22, and are surrounded bysuitable packing 28, the latter chamber being eXtend'-' ed through thesemi-crescent shaped tooth- 21 and provided with an opening 29 which is adapted to lie beneath a shoe 30 when the coupling heads of different .cars are in lockedposition, (Fig. IV.) Shoe 30 is .piv-

" otally mounted at one end of a bar 31, which is slidably mountedin a groove 32, in the coupling pipe 10, the opposite end. of the bar being adapted to rest against the head 330i a valve actuating device 34, which is tensionedby aspring 35 that rests in a a pocket 36, sothat the shoe 30 is held yieldingly outward against the face 19 of the coupler jaw and so that when two coupler heads are brought together the-pawl 38 a the'outer face of shoe 30 will hold in the notch 39 ofone coupler jaw and S1H1L1ll32LI16 ously close the port 29' of the adjacent jaw.

Each jawis provided witha second notch:

, t0 adapted, for engagement by the tooth 38 when the parts are open to hold the parts in readiness for a coupling to be made. The

with a tubular extension let'which is thread ed into the chamber 15 of the pipe and pro bar 31 is provided with a downturned shoulder4-1 which is adapted to engag'e the stud 12 in the barrel 1, for the purposepresently described. j s k The inner end of the coupling pipe 10 terminates adjacent ashouldert on the inner face ofthe barrel 1, and is provided vided with an end 16, having a cen'trallaperture 16 and shoulder 47, against the cap 2, rests a ring 18. I

Surrounding the tubular extension .44 is a coil spring which bears agalnst the .ring

18 and against a similar ring 51 that rests against the shoulder 48 and .theend ofwthe couplingpipe 10, so that when a coupling is made, the coupling pipe will yieldingly recede within the barrel far enough to cornpensate for the variation in different cars;

the tension being taken up by the spring 50 ind washer 48 that bears against the cap 2 and the washer 51 that bears against the end ofthe. coupling pipe. It will be seen that a when the cars are disconnected the action'of thespring 50 is the same but the washer @8 then bears against the shoulder 47 von the extension 44: and the Washer 51 against the shoulder43 on the barrel 1.

, In an automatic air coupling of this type, it is necessary, n addition to oining the heads together, to provide means for main taining, a circulation of air through the brake line. should the cars accidentally part, and also to provide means for manually re taining the air in; each car or section of a train, so that the brakes will not be set,

which, andr '7 v i tends upwardly through a screw cap 69.

shouldit be desired toset o'ut a car -or when a train is being switched.- Inorder to avoid threaded aperture 58, into whichis threaded the'tubular valve 59; the other having a solid valve head 60 somewhat shorterthanfithe valve 59.. When two carspart, thevc'oupling" pipes, 10 are drawn from the barrel 1 against the tension of-the spring .50 until the; shouldeli 11 of the bar 31 strikes ithelstud lilto.

disengage the pawl 38 fronitheinotch 39 and release the jaws 117 which swing on 'their pivotal mounting and'permit the bar- 31 and 5 the valve actuating device 3 1 to move outwardly under the influence 10f spring-[35,1 5 thereby moving the tubularvalve 59, over the port62 in the valvefchamber 54: and the valve 60 over the slotted port 66 in the channel 55, the latter, which' controls'the sig- 7 nal line, being adapted to" close later than the",'oth 'er,"so that, asignalin the engine; or

vcaboose will be energizedto notifyfthe gineer or conductor that the train has parted, such signals,as they form no" part of the present inventionnojt beings'hown I In order to, automatically set the brake v simultaneously withthe parting of" the cars,

it is necessaryto by-pass theair' in 'order that it will exhaust through the couplingj heads, as the valve 59has closed-the port to use com1orises, indetail, acylinder (Fig.

XV) 65 containing a'plun'ger 66 having a I transverse bore 67 and a rod68' which eX- The bore 67 has a lateral opening TO which registers with an op'ening 71 in the cylinder,

and an upwardly extending bore 72 that turns radially at right angles and opens through thefside of the plunger.- On each side of the cylinder, and in line "with the bore 67, are openings 73, and'flythe'former' being connected by means ,of an elbow 75 to the'm'ain brake line .8,fand the latter hav-v ing double elbow connection 76 with the chamber 4:;

Immediately in front of cha nber j l5 is an- 7 other chamberff'? which is separated there from by a partition-78; and which 'has any extended portion 79' that connects with the chamber athrough an opening 80 {Adjacent the chamber?- 9 is a vertical cylinder 81 having three laterally'opening, circular ports A,

B and C, which, communicate" with a duct 9?,a passage 1.00, and; the chamber 79 re spectively, and which may be opened and Y closed by means of a slide valve 60; pres-- may described. I The vertical cylinder 81-.

eommunicateswith the chamber" 79 through I port C, with the chamber 77 fthrough an 62 in the brake line. The by-p a'ss I prefer l I opening 82 and with a-v duct 83 through the opening 84, which latter extends upwardly and forwardly (Figs. XIIIXVII) and communicates with the passage 14 through the tubular valve 59.

Slidably mounted in the cylinder 81 is a piston 85 havingpin and groove connection 86 and 87 with the cylinder wall and a notch 88 in its lower edge, and which is adapted for actuation bygravity and by air pressure admitted or exhausted through the ports A, B and C, to open or close the openings 82 and 84. The air pressure throughthe ports A, B and C is governed by a: slide valve mechanism comprising a flat right angular member 90, the vertical leg of whichiis slidably mounted in a slot 91 between the chamber 79 and the cylinder 81, and is provided with apertures a, b and c arrangedso that the apertures a and 0 will register with ports A and (land the port I) will be closed, or vice versa. The horizontal leg of the slide valve extends forwardly through an aperture 92 into the channel 55 and is held yieldingly in its forward position by a spring 93. The slide valve 90 is, adapted for actuation by the last quarter inch of the stroke of the 'Figs. XVIIXVIII, r

, The upper end of the cylinder 81 opens intoa chamber 95 formed partly in the barrel 1 and partly in coupling pipe 10, and is provided with a'tube 96 that connects with the aperture 71 in the cylinder 65.

v The port A-communicates with a duct 97 which extends; rearwardly through the chambers 77 and45, exhausts into the tubular extension 44, and into the atmosphere through apertures 46 and 2. V

The lower portion of cylinder 65 is provided with a duct 98 (Fig. XV) which communicates with the port B through a passage. 100, so that air from the cylinder 81 will flow through the port B, passage 100 and duct98 directly on the bottom of the piston 66 and raise it to its normal position.

In the operation of the apparatus, presuming a train standing on asiding with no air in the brake or signal lines, and all brakes set, the coupler jaws 17 at each end" of the train are open, the valves 59 and 60 cover the ports62 and 63 respectively, the piston 85 is at the bottom of the cylinder 81 closing the openings 82 and 84, the ports A and C are closed, the port 13 open and the plunger 66 is at the top of cylinder 65 (Figs. VIIIXVII.) A locomotive equipped with a similar coupling head backs up to the train, and the brake and signal lines are automatically. connected through *the jaw and lifts the piston 85 to the top of the cylinder; 81 (Fig. IX,) the air above the cylinder being exhausted through the'port A into theduct 97. This action uncovers the openings 82 and 84 so that air from the mainbrake line 8, which-has passed through the by-pass and filled the chambers 4 and 77- 79, will flow through the openings 82 and 84, into duct 83, through the tubular valve 59 and commingle with the air. in the passage 14, thereby releasing thebrakes and placing all parts under neutral pressure.

After the train is in motion, should any part of the train becomedisconnected or broken fromthe other, the action will be as follows: The coupling pipes 10 at that particular point will be moved in their respective barrels until the shoulder 41 of bar 31 engages thestud 42 so that the shoe 30 is removed from the opening 29 to energize the signal, and the pawl 38 is removed from the notch 39, at which point the coupling jajwsvl7 part and the valves59 and 60 instantly close theports 62 and 63 to close the air line, but the by-pass is open so that air will flow through this channel and through the tubular valve 59 until the pressure is exhausted andthe brakes are set. The piston will then fall bygravity and close the openings 82 and84, and the locomotive may pump up the air line on the section that has remained intact and back up and couple onto the other section, asheretofore described. If it is desired to cut a train for a crossing, set out a car or remove one or more cars, as in the general practice of switching, the rod 68, which is suitably connected so as to be. accessible from each side of the car, is moved downwardly by the trainman, thereby moving the piston 66 downwardly and the transverse bore 67 away from the openings 73 and 74 and establishing connection between the opening 73 and the tube 96. The air will: now flow (Fig. I) from the main brake line 8, through elbow 75 (Fig. .XVI), bore 72, bore 67 opening 71, (Fig. X), tube 96 and chamber 95, thus exerting a pressure on top of the piston 85 equal to the pressure on the bottom thereof. The coupling pin is then removed and the disconnection made. The

valves 59 and 60 instantly close the ports 62'and 63 and the smallvolume of aircontained in the chambers 4, 77tand 81 is instantly relieved through the duct =83 and tubular'valve59 so that'the pressure on the top of the piston 85 moves it 'quicklydown- Ward to close the openings 82 and 84. Simultaneously With the" closing of the valvesfiilfand 60 the slide-valve 90 was moved forward by the spring 93 so as to close ports A and C and openport B (Fig. XI.) Thevolume of air Which is now flowing into the cylinder 81 through the tube 96, and which lowered the piston 85, passes I through the port B into passage 100 and I through said tubular valve.

'duct 98. Here it encounters the plunger 66 and exerts a pressure on the bottom of the 'plungerc'ausing it to rise quickly to'the top of the cylinder (Fig. XV.) The parts are thus automatically brought back to their normal positions and the air retained in the brake and signal lines, so that the brakes will not be set and the carsmay be moved about as desired.

' Having thus described my invention, What I claimasnevv therein, and desire to-secure by Letters-Patent,- is v i l. In an air coupling, a barrel having an air conduit, a coupling pipe having an air channel, valved connection between said conduit and channel, and means for by passing the'main current of air around-said valved connection.

2.]In'an air couplin a barrel having air conduits, a couplingpipe having air channels, valved connections between said conduits and; channels, and means for by-passing air around one of saidvalved connections, 1

3. In an air coupling, a barrel having elongated air chambers, acoupling pipe slidably mounted in said. barrel, having air channel ports adapted for communication with said'air chambers, and a spring in said barrel for holding said chambers and ports in communication;

4:. In an air coupling, a barrel having air conduits, a coupling pipe slidably mountedin said barrel and having air channels,

valved connection between said conduits and channels, and means for coniminglin'g I the air in one of said conduits with the air in one of said channels When said valves are closed.

. 5. In an air coupling, a barrel having an airconduit, a coupling pipe having an air channel and channel port, a tubular valve adapted for closing said port, and means for conducting air around said port and through said tubular valve.

' 6. In an air coupling, a barrel having an air conduit, a coupling pipe having an air channel and channel port adapted ltor communication With said air conduit, a tubular valve for closing said port, and means'lor conducting air around said port and 7.111 an air coupling, a barrel having an air conduit, a coupling pipe slidably mount-. ed in said barrel andhaving an air chan-.

' nel and channelport, a tubular valve for said port, a piston valve adjacent saidtu bular valve, a slide valve for actuating said piston valve, and a by-pass for conducting airthrough said piston valve and through said tubular valve.

" 8. In an air coupling, a barrel having an air conduit, a coupling pipei'slidably mounted in said barrel and having an air channel and channel portcommunicating With said air conduit,,a tubular valve *lorclosing said port, a by-pass connecting said conduit and said tubular valve, a piston valv'e for opening and closing said by-pass, and a slide valve for governing saidpiston valve 9." In an air coupling,- a barrel having an air conduit, a coupling pipe slidably mount'-' ed in said barrel and having an air channel and channel port, a coupling jaw pivotally mounted in said coupling pipe, a bar slidably' mounted'in said coupling pipe and operable from said javv, a tubular valve for closing said channel port, a by-pass connecting said conduit and channel, a piston valve for opening said by pass, and aslide valve operable from said sliding bar for governing said piston valve.

10. In an air coupling,a barrel having an air conduit, a coupling pipe having an air 1 said barrel, a coupling pipe slidably mountf ed in said barrel, having an air channel and channel port communicating 'Wltll' said air conduit, and having an apertured tubular extension slidably mounted in said' apertured cap, a tubular valve for closing said port, a by-pass member connecting said conduit and said channel, a piston valve in said by-pass member, and a slide valve operable from said tubular valve mechanism, where by air'is admitted beneath said piston and exhausted above said piston, into and through said apertured' tubular extension and apertured cap to open said by-pass and admit air from said conduit through said tubular valve to said channel.

12. In an air coupling, a barrel having an air conduit, a couplingpipe having an air channel and channel port, communicating With said air conduit, a tubular valve for closing 'sald'port, a bv-pass connectlng said conduit and channel, a'piston valve in said lay-pass, a slide valve having a plurality of ports communicating With-said piston valve, a hand valve 'insaid bypass, and a" 1O I for closing said manually operable valve for tube leading from said hand valve'to said piston valve whereby air is conveyed to lower said piston and close said'valve.

13. In an air coupling, a barrel having an air conduit, a coupling pipe having an air channel and channel port, a tubular valve for closing said port, a by-pass for conveying air from said conduit tov said channel around said closed channel port, a manually operable valve in said by-pass, and means retaining air in said conduit.

14. In an air coupling, abarrel havingan air conduit, a coupling pipe having an air channel and channel port, a tubular valve' for closing said channel port, a b'y-pass for conveying air from said conduit to said channel around said closed channel port, a manually operable valve in said by-pass having an air duct whereby'air isconducted from said by-pass to open said manually operablevalve. r I

15. In an air coupling, a barrel having an air conduit, a coupling pipehaving anair channel and channel port, a tubular valve for closing :said channel port, a bypass for conducting air from said conduit to said channel around said closed channel port,a piston valve in' said by-pass, a piston in said piston valve, a slide valve for operating said piston valve, a manually operable valve in said by-pass having an air duct, a piston in said manually operable valve having an internal duct, and a tube leading from said internal duct to said piston valve whereby air from said conduit passesthrough said internal duct, through said tube, into said piston valve, through said slide valve,

through said by-pass and through said manually operable valve duct to raise said manually operable valve piston.

16. In an air coupling, a barrel having a:

pair of longitudinal chambers, an air conduit communicating with one of said chambers, a coupling pipe slidably mounted in said barrel having an air channel and channel port, a tubular valve for closing said port, a by-pass connecting said air conduit and said air channel comprising a tube, the other one of said barrel chambers, a coupling pipe chamber and a duct from said coupling pipe chamberto said tubular valve, a pmton valve between said couplingpipe chamber and said duct having laterally opening -ports,a-piston in said piston valve adapted for closing said lateral ports, a slide valve for actuating said piston valve having a plurality of ports communicating with said coupling pipe chamber and with said piston valve, one of said ports communicating with an exhaust duct, a manually operable valve in said by pass having a laterally opening aperture and a longitudinal duct, a-piston in said manually operablevalve having an internal duct, a tube communicating with said aperture and with said piston valve and means for actuating said slide valve wherev I by air is conducted from said conduit through .said internal duct, through said in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. WRIGHT, JR. Witnessesz- I I VERA C. SEAREs, HARRY B. WELLs.

flepies of thil'patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner at l'atentl, Washington, D; 0." 

